A diverse delegation of 20 leaders representing fishermen, processors, and advocacy groups from Pacific, New England and Gulf of Mexico regions got a close look at New Zealand’s quota management system (QMS) during a March 13-19, 2006 study tour to the Auckland, Wellington and Nelson regions.

Dedicated access programs have attracted a great deal of interest in the United States as Americans wrestle with many of the same issues New Zealanders have had to cope with, such as rebuilding fish stocks, complex government regulation and overcapitalization. This tour was designed to create open dialogue with those directly in the industry to learn from New Zealand’s 20-year experience with individual quota systems.  Tour participants are expected to conduct outreach efforts in their regions to share what they learned.

According to the NZ Ministry of Fisheries, 492 stocks comprised of 92 species are currently managed in the QMS. The value of those stocks is estimated at $3.5 billion and that 80 percent of them are at sustainable levels. The fishing fleet has decreased from 3,408 vessels in 1988 to 2,176 in 2001.

During the course of the tour, the Americans learned first-hand from New Zealand fishermen, company managers, directors of industry organizations, Maori fishing industry leaders, and government agency staff about their experiences. After orientation in Auckland the study tour group:

• Visited the small port of Leigh 60 miles north of Auckland, where they observed independent Leigh Fisheries’ fish exporting business, visited with local fishermen, and learned about the Goat Island marine reserve.
• Back in Auckland they met with fishermen, observed the new Auckland fish auction, learned about industry-proposed deepwater benthic protected areas, and met with company managers of Sanford Seafoods, Moana Pacific, and Anton’s Seafoods.
• In the nation’s capital, Wellington, they met with Ministry of Fisheries officials before participating in meeting of the National Rock Lobster Management Group to learn about industry-funded approaches to stock assessment and management.  The tour group then learned about industry-funded activities of the Seafood Industry Council and the privatization of QMS data services with FISHServe, Ltd. From the leaders of Aotearoa Fisheries, Ltd. and Te Ohu Kiamoana the tour participants learned how Maori have successfully fought for and allocated quota shares and have shaped their operations into corporate models.
• Finally, the tour moved on to Nelson, New Zealand’s largest fishing port.  Here the Americans observed and learned about the industry-funded approach to co-management, stock assessment employed and enhancement work of Challenger Scallop/Oyster quota shareholder company.  Tour participants also visited with many Nelson area fishermen and others for informal discussions.
• The tour concluded with a summary session, evaluation, and ideas for outreach by tour participants.